The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 65

bo World Cup '94 fflWWWfWTiri llinnmTlllVMTmiOTllim'lifrmiH'llffll'i'illlW'lllMllllllllM-rnmi m.ili.nni.-i ln.L.iim fi. ii News Section Deaths 70-71 mmmmesBM THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE JUNE 19, 1994 Hie fete US (tDl'i i Host will take point as Wynalda's free kick costs Swiss: By John Powers GLOBE STAFF TU PONTIAC, Mich. It wasn't rt vrl Vi IB world but after 44 years of '4 "I'm a bit said US midfielder John Harkes, whose mates face powerful Colombiain the Rose Bowl Wednesday. "I thought Switzer land was there for the taking." Yet even tying the Swiss, who haven't losf a match in two years, was an accomplishment. The Swiss had beaten and tied Italy in their qualifying group and outscored their rivals, 23-6.

So US coach Bora Milutinovic went with a defensive mid-field and hoped that the novelty of playing in a steamy terrarium might unnerve the Swiss. It was the first time a Cup match had eer been played indoors, and the combination of $0-degree heat, 71 percent humidity and no air coft ji-tioning turned the Silverdome into a reverberatftig sauna. "We've never played in a place where the sounds and smells were so magnified," said Swijs coach Roy Hodgson. "It was like playing in a iifct dog stand." Yet the Swiss felt they had the better of tle match, particularly once Georges Bregy scored In a direct kick in the 39th minute. They'd been priming the American defense since the opening whistle, looking for a false step or a short-circuit.

When US, Page' 67 S1 "-'at- nothing, it'll do. Just when it looked as if the US soccer team was headed for yet another World Cup defeat yesterday afternoon, Eric Wynalda blasted a free kick off the crossbar just before halftime to give the underdog Americans a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opener before 73,425 inside a hothouse called the Silverdome. "Four years ago we lost to the Czechs 5-1," said US defender Paul Caligiuri, after the Yanks earned their first Cup point since 1950, when they shocked England 1-0. "So one point is pretty good this time." After going 40 years without qualifying for the Cup and losing all three matches in 1990, the Americans hungered to take a piece of somebody, anybody, this time. And the Swiss, who were playing in their first Cup match since 1966, seemed more likely marks than the Colombians and fpaw 7 1 vt-r, i A i 4 A i -IN Itching to contribute, hero didn't act rashly PONTIAC, MICH.

-SftirfX The hero had hives. "I wasn't sure I 7 wanted to touch ft revealed Paul Caligiuri. "But when he scored that goal I ran over and jumped on him." Despite the hives. rn 1 a. T-r tv I II 0 I Your one goal in a 1-1 World Cup game is stop-the-presses stuff.

Hives or not, you can probably expect a very affectionate welcoming committee. "It was an allergic reaction to something I ate," explained Eric Wynalda, whose goal in the 45th minute gave the United States that 1-1 tie in the first American World Cup game ever played on these shores. "I had hives all over my body. We weren't sure I was going to play. I didn't sleep.

I actually threw up this morning." He still doesn't know what caused his condition. What he does know is that, RYAN, Page 67 I AP PHOTOS Goalkeeper Tony Meola stretches for the save as teammate Alexi Lalas fends off Switzerland's Nestor Subiat in a flurry in front of the US net. i US fans erupt as (from left) Alexi Lalas, John Harkes and Ernie Stewart swarm American scorer Eric Wynalda. Irish have reason tosimfle they upset Italy Houghton's goal sends countrymen into frenzy By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF "ill )f Tragedy strikes: 12 Mexican fans die in crash outside Dulles Airport. Page 2.

Rooting interest: Greek coach watched US-Switzerland match closely. Page 66. Tough sell: Low-scoring game won't attract American TV audience. Page 66. Home run: Irish players get a lift by playing in front of partisan throng.

Page 68. For our Spanish readers IffPffKI EAST RUTHERFORD, KSjrJ N.J. Giants Stadium was liMAJU transformed into an Irish stronghold yesterday. Irish fans appeared in force, filling the stadium with banners, chants, songs and old-fashioned, appreciative applause. And the Republic of Ireland national soccer team capitalized on the supporters' enthusiasm and its own competent play for a 1-0 victory over Italy.

This was merely a first-round World Cup match, but the atmosphere conveyed that much more was at stake than the 3 points Ireland earned. About 90 percent of the 73,511 crowd was dressed in green, and their signs represented dozens of Irish cities and clubs, including Cliftonville F.C. from Belfast. They sang, "You'll never beat Ireland" -though Italy had never before failed to do so. They chanted for Paul McGrath, the inspiring presence in the center of the Irish defense.

And now, Ireland has transformed itself into a World Cup force. The Irish have staked out their territory. They already had established their style long balls, simple attacks, reliance on defense to frustrate the opposition but now it has proven to be effective. Equally as important, they have become established as a true home team, along with Colombia, Mexico and the United States, in the contest to capture the support off hyphenated Americans. IRELAND, Page 68 Para nuestros lectores de Espanol Page 6 NO CELEBRATION: They watched, they talked, they sipped drinks, and some (right) ejen prayed, but the Italian faithful at Caffe Dello Sport in the North went home disappointed after the muf-h anticipated game with Ireland.

St ry, Page 68. fy GLOBE STAFF PHOTO JIm'cAVIS.